Guidance on Health-Related Incidental Findings from Genetic Analysis

As I mentioned in a recent article discussing the challenges of providing DNA sequencing for medical diagnosis, results from genetic testing are different than other simpler diagnostic tests that just look for the presence or absence of some factor.  Gene analysis can easily find incidental, but important, DNA mutations indicating health risks unrelated to the conditions prompting the test. For example, a lab may find a mutation related to some cardiovascular disorder when it is looking for genetic factors causing hearing loss. What should the lab do with the information about the cardiovascular risk factor? Report it to the doctor treating the patient's deafness, not note it at all, or handle it in some other manner?...Read Full Post
Source: About.com Biotech Biomedical - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: news